The Experiment is held in a sprawling, three-story oceanfront estate located in one of the remote four-wheel drive beaches on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
The massive 12,000 square foot home boasts eighteen bedrooms, a kitchen and dining area seating more than forty people, a large central gathering room which also houses the dance floor, additional spaces for quiet retreat including a lofted sitting area and wrap-around porches with ocean views, a large deck with pool and hot tub, and direct beach access. Other notable amenities include a baby grand piano, pool table, separate kitchenette for use by participants, laundry, and free wifi internet.
Just north of the town of Corolla, NC, the house is situated in one of the last and least developed areas of the Outer Banks. With no paved roads, shops, or restaurants, this area can only be accessed using four-wheel drive vehicles to traverse the beach and trails. (For how to get there, see Airport & Ground Transpo below.) These same beaches are also home to the famous Corolla Wild Horses, which can often be seen roaming between the houses and ocean.
For those who might spend extra time in the area, other regional attractions include the historic Whalehead Club at Currituck Heritage Park, numerous lighthouses, and Wright Brothers National Memorial.
There are two room configurations providing a total of three accommodation options.
Two-person rooms have just one queen or king bed (shared between two people) and a connected bathroom shared with another two-person room. Three-person rooms are larger and have one king bed (again shared between two people) plus one added single bed, with a dedicated bathroom. Those who would strongly prefer one of the limited number of single beds in the three-person rooms can request that option specifically on their application.
All rooms include a chest of drawers and either a closet or wardrobe. Bed linens and a single bath towel and wash cloth per person are provided. Laundry and irons are available on each floor.
Meals are professionally catered and included in the price of accommodations. Most meals are served buffet-style with separated ingredients from which participants can pick and choose, and which should include options for the most common dietary restriction categories (typically either vegetarian/vegan or low-carb/paleo/gluten-free). A menu will be made available several months in advance to help clarify what to expect and enable those with additional restrictions or concerns to ask questions and plan accordingly.
(It is also a well-established tradition for attendees to bring regional or international delicacies and desserts–or the ingredients to make them–to share with fellow participants.)
Because of its remote location (explained in House & Surrounding Area above), The Experiment provides a (free) charter bus at the beginning of each week from Norfolk International Airport (ORF) to the town of Corolla, NC, a trip of about two hours. From there, participants are shuttled in four-wheel drive vehicles over the beach to reach the house.
The bus departs from the airport promptly at 4 pm each opening Sunday. Those who are flying should aim to arrive before 3 pm or risk having to make the very expensive trip by taxi (the bus cannot wait for you and there are no other public transportation options; the cost of this trip by taxi is around $175 + tip). Those who cannot arrive or depart in time on the same day as the bus are suggested to stay at one of the hotels near the airport, especially those which offer free airport shuttles. The return trip is made on the closing Sunday morning of each week, with the charter bus arriving to the airport by approximately 12 noon. Departing flights should be scheduled to leave no earlier than 2 pm.
Participants wishing to drive can either meet/park at Norfolk airport and take the charter bus at 4 pm (also the best option for dealing with rental cars), or drive to a meeting point in Corolla by 6 pm where they can park (for a fee) and join the others for the remaining trip out to the house. Finally, those adventurous enough to try beach driving in a four-wheel drive vehicle can find more information here.
